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Vaccinating Dogs

Why should dogs be vaccinated?

Veterinarians advise that responsible owners should take their dogs to have
their vaccinations administered. A vaccine is the administration or
inoculation of the weakened or dead strain of a pathogen into an organism’s
body. The purpose of this is to trigger an immune response within the
organism, in this case within the dog. Thus, following any possible future
exposure to the pathogen, the organism’s immune system should be able to
recognise the harmful bacteria or virus and respond to it effectively. This
form of medicine is preventative and often ensures that animals are able to
survive when exposed to a bacteria or virus for which there can be no cure.
They survive because their own bodies, due to the vaccination, will usually
acquire the ability to fight off the infection themselves.

It is
essential for the health of dogs and puppies to be vaccinated in order to
prevent the transmission of diseases. Dogs love to smell, touch, taste, dig
up, and roll in the environment that surrounds them; all of which can result
in them harbouring an infection. Even the way they greet each other can
transfer a pathogen. Some of these diseases do not have cures and so
prevention is vital in maintaining a healthy dog. If all owners responsibly
vaccinate their dogs, then there would be greater protection against an
infection which can sometimes even be fatal.

When buying
a puppy, the owner should take it to the vet to be registered and then the
information on vaccinations can be given. The protection from its mother’s
milk only lasts a few weeks and so it needs all the help it can get. The
vaccinations can often be given in one or two injections and so do not cause
much distress or expense as opposed to if the animal actually contracted the
disease. As pack animals dogs do need company and so interaction with other
dogs, for example in the park, is recommended for a healthy dog both
physically and mentally. As a result, vaccination is a healthier option for
a pet rather than keeping it indoors away from other dogs or other possible
sources of infection for the whole of its life.

When should dogs be vaccinated?

Puppies
should be vaccinated at around seven to eight weeks of age which ensures
that the immunity from the mother’s milk does not reduce the effectiveness
of the vaccine. The course is administered in two doses within a time period
of ten days. Following one week after the second injection is given;
veterinarians often advise that the puppy is not allowed out of the house or
come into contact with other dogs aside from its mother so that the puppy’s
immune system has the time to have been appropriately developed.

For older
dogs, following their initial vaccinations when they were puppies, annual
“boosters” are required. This provides long term immunity and keeps your
dogs relatively safe. The boosters can be given more regularly although it
is more cost effective to do so annually and in many cases once a year may
be all that is actually needed for the dog. The veterinary surgery should
send reminders in the post telling the owner when their registered pet is
due for its booster.

Which vaccines are most commonly used?

The main vaccines still used for dogs are important due
to the occurrence of transmission from unvaccinated dogs. Fortunately, more
owners are becoming responsible and having their dogs vaccinated which is
leading to the decreasing numbers of fatalities and distress. However, this
does not mean it is becoming safer to not vaccinate as these numbers can
easily increase if even just one infected dog comes into contact with other
unvaccinated dogs.

A brief overview of the main diseases is as follows:

Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus
is a fatal disease which can be transmitted by faeces. It is able to survive
for long periods of time on items such as clothes, feeding bowls and fur. It
is a highly contagious disease and the symptoms include bloody diarrhoea and
vomiting.

Canine Hepatitis

Infectious
canine hepatitis is an infection of the liver in dogs. This fatal disease
can be transmitted via bodily fluids such as urine. The abdomen becomes very
painful and the dog will cough, vomit, and have diarrhoea. A bluish tinge
can also appear on the eye.

Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper
is extremely contagious and caused by a virus. It can be transmitted via the
air, bodily fluids, and faeces. The dog shows symptoms of vomiting,
diarrhoea, hard pad, and fever. It is known for the infected dog to die
suddenly.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is
a bacterial disease which can be transmitted by infected urine coming into
contact with the dog’s blood, for example via an abrasion of the skin. The
disease can be fatal and symptoms include fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea,
and depression.

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is a
contagious disease which is usually transmitted between dogs via the air
through coughing or sneezing. The disease is characterised by a dry coughing
but other symptoms include sneezing, vomiting and sometimes fever.

Rabies

Rabies is a fatal disease which is highly contagious even
to humans. It is usually transmitted when the dog is bitten by an infected
animal. In order to leave or enter the UK dogs need to be vaccinated against
rabies and prove that they are not infected. There are three stages of the
symptoms and it usually ends in death.

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